Another collection I’ve read recently where I felt like the first few stories weren’t leaving a mark, but then after a certain point it’s just knockout after knockout!

A lot of these stories have themes of immigration, straddling cultures, often Scotland and Egypt or Sudan. The protagonists struggle to adjust, or find themselves pining for home, or muse on the differences between here and there. There are arranged marriages, love matches, children or a distinct lack of. There’s the heavy burden of parental expectations. There are interracial marriages which go the distance and those that don’t. There are practising Muslims and non. 

Despite the recurring themes, Aboulela manages to make each story feel different to the last, offering new perspectives, new twists on characters who share similar characteristics yet could not be more different from one another. My favourites were Pages of Fruit, Souvenirs, and The Museum. 

Recommended if you enjoyed Manchester Happened by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi!